Rustic Pathways offers group travel for educational groups, teen tours for high school students, gap year programs, and six core program types for ages 12–22: New Programs, Popular Programs, First-Time Travelers, High-Impact Service, Animal Experiences, and Best-of Beaches.
New program dates are now available. Request the catalog to see new teen tours.
What is Rustic Pathways?
Rustic Pathways is a student travel company founded in 1983 that creates life-changing programs for students ages 12–22. Rustic Pathways offer immersive service-learning, adventure, cultural immersion, animal conservation, and leadership programs in 20+ countries, with 155,000+ alumni worldwide.
Rustic Pathways is headquartered in Mentor, Ohio with an office in Seoul, South Korea. The company operates chaperoned group flights from major U.S. gateway airports.
Rustic Pathways is a multi-award-winning youth travel provider, including International Travel Awards (2024) and a Skift IDEA Award (2024). Families choose us for 24/7 emergency support, a verified low student-to-leader ratio, and programs overseen by Medical Director Dr. Will Smith.
Rustic Pathways emphasizes transformational student travel and measurable impact through high impact service and learning outcomes.
Our Program Categories
New Programs
Be the first to experience new itineraries featuring emerging destinations and unique partnerships with local experts.
Popular Programs
Our most booked teen travel programs blend meaningful service with adventure and consistently earn 4.9/5 on GoOverseas.
First-Time Travelers
Beginner-friendly youth travel programs emphasize safety, structured support, and confidence-building for students new to international travel.
See First-Time Traveler Options →
High-Impact Service
Make a difference while earning 10–80 verified service hours, with an average of about 25 hours per program, on projects aligned with global development goals.
Discover High-Impact Service →
Animal Experiences
Work with trusted conservation partners on wildlife care and habitat preservation in destinations like Fiji, Greece, Thailand, and Costa Rica.
Best-of Beaches
Combine marine conservation and community projects with time on iconic coastlines.
Explore by Service Type
Filter by the focus that matters most to you.
- Community Health — Support health clinics and promote wellbeing.
- Education — Mentor students and assist in schools.
- Economic Development — Help communities create sustainable livelihoods.
- Environment & Conservation — Protect wildlife and preserve ecosystems.
- Cultural Immersion — Live with host families and experience local traditions.
Is Rustic Pathways Right for You?
- Ages 12–22 who want teen adventure travel programs, leadership, and cultural immersion.
- First-time travelers who benefit from chaperoned group flights and high supervision.
- Service-minded students who want verified hours for middle school, high school or college.
- Families who value industry-leading safety and global expertise.
FAQs
Can I filter educational travel programs by age, destination, or length?
Yes. Use filters for age, destination, program type, service focus, and duration.
How many service hours are included?
Most service trips include 10–80 verified hours, typically averaging 25 per program, documented by a Rustic certificate.
What is the investment for teen travel programs?
Teen travel programs start at about $2,495 and include 24/7 supervision, in-country activities, meals, and insurance. Financial aid and scholarships are available.
Learn more about Rustic Pathways’ Travel for All initiative
Why Families Choose Rustic Pathways
- Safety & supervision. Verified low student-to-leader ratio and 24/7 emergency support on educational travel programs.
- Awards & press. Recognized by International Travel Awards (2024) and Skift (2024).
Featured among Outside’s Best Places to Work (2017). - Impact. Deep community partnerships and clear student learning outcomes with annual impact reporting.
- Trust. Rustic Pathways is a leading student travel provider with a 4.9/5 rating on GoOverseas with more than 155,000+ alumni worldwide.
Seasonal Urgency
Winter and Spring programs are filling fast. Popular summer destinations typically fill early in the year. Save your spot to secure preferred dates and flights for your high school travel program. Don’t miss out.
- Learn more About Rustic.
- Review our Health & Safety approach.
- See our Impact strategy and reports.
Get Started
Request 2026 Catalog → | View All Student Programs → | Talk to a Travel Advisor →